Movable jaw wrench



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 1, 1958 m 2 3 T? y a MW W 4 Z l M v i. f fly? 1 H K M July 17, 1962 A. A. KERANEN MOVABLE JAW WRENCH Filed May 1, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 51/781! 1374276?! United States Patent 3,044,335 MOVABLE JAW WRENCH Alfred A. Keranen, Detroit, Mich. (Box 453, Atlantic Mine, Mich.) Filed May 1, 1958, Ser. No. 732,274 6 Claims. (Cl. 81-91) This invention relates to a wrench and has particular reference to a wrench having a fixed jaw and a movable jaw to eliminate the necessity for removal and replacement of the wrench on the object to be turned when successive turning strokes are to be applied. The invention further contemplates a novel arrangement of the several parts of the wrench so as to obtain a positive and eflicient locking of the movable jaw while the wrench is applying a turning force on a nut, bolt, pipe, or other object to be turned. In its broader aspects, the invention is directed to a novel arrangement of machine elements so related that each may be moved relative to the other only when such other part is in a certain position thereof, each part being operable to constain the other from movement except when in said position.

It is a principal object of the invention to provide a novel arrangement of machine elements each of which has a predetermined position in which the other part is freely movable relative thereto, and each of which, when moved out of its said position, is adapted to. constrain said other part from movement.

Another principal object of the invention is to provide a new and improved wrench.

ing 10. A pin 23 secured at its ends in walls 22provides a stop for the movable jaw 16.

The housing 10 extends rearwardly from the side walls 22 with the end 24 thereof received within the hollow interior 26 of the handle 12. The handle 12 is provided with spaced upwardly extending ears 28 between which the end 24 of the housing 10 extends with the pin 14 secured at its ends in the spaced ears 28. A spring 30 backed up by a threaded plug 32 threaded into an opening in the bottom wall 34 0f the handle 12 reacts against the inner end 24 of the member 10 to urge the handle 12 in a clockwise direction about its pivot pin 14.

The handle .12 has its forward end 36 extending into the space between the walls22. As isbest shown in FIG. 3, the end surface 38 of the forward end of the handle 12 is a convex arcuate surface, the center of curvature of which coincides with the axis of pin 14 on which the han- A further object of the invention is to provide a wrench having a movable jaw and means for locking the movable jaw.

Another object of the invention is to provide a movable jaw wrench in which the force against the movable jaw from the object being turned reacts against the handle of the wrench in a direction to more firmly lock the jaw in position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wrench having a movable jaw and complementary or matching locking surfaces formed on the movable jaw and the handle of the wrench.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and may be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, of which there are two sheets, which by way of illustration show preferred embodiments of the invention and what I now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying the principles of my invention. Other embodiments of the invention may be used without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a wrench embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the wrench shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged View partly in section ofthe wrench shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the wrench in a different operative position thereof;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view partly in section of a modified form of the invention;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are fragmentary elevational views illustrating different operative positions of the wrench shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating a further modification of the invention; and

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate different operative positions of the wrench shown in FIG. 8.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in tile 12 is pivoted. The inner end of the movable jaw 16 is provided with a complementary or matching concave arcuate surface-49 formed on the. same'radius as the end surface 38so that the surface 38 will slide freely against the matching surface 40onthe movable jaw 16 when handle 12 is pivoted on pin 14. The forward end 36 of the handle 12 is also provided with a concave arcuate surface 44 stepped 'at 45 to a larger radius surface 47 concentric to surface 44. The surface 44 matches the convex arcuate surface42 formed on the inner end .of the movable jaw 16. The arcuate surface 42 has itscenter of curvature coincident with the axis of the pivot pin 18 for the movable jaw 16, and the matching concave surface 44 is formed on the same radius as the surface 42 on jaw 16. A segment 46 disposed between the forward end of the lever 12 and the movable jaw 16 has one. face formed on the same radius as surfaces 38 and 40 on the handle and movable jaw, respectively, and its opposite face, also stepped at 45, formed on the same radii as surfaces 44 and 47 on the lever 12. The surfaces 38 and 42, together with segment 46, which is complementary to both such surfaces, thus form overlapping, relatively movable cylindrical surfaces.

A spring 48 has one end secured to one end of the segment 46 and its other end anchored to a pin 50 secured on handle 12. The spring 48 is disposed within a bore 52 which intersects the arcuate surface 44 in handle 12. It will be seen that when the handle 12 is pivoted about pin 14 the segment 46 will move therewith with the segment sliding against the arcuate surface 40 on the movable jaw 16. When the movable jaw -16 is pivoted on its pivot pin 18, the segment 46 will be carried therewith and will slide against the arcuate surfaces 44 and 47 on the forward end of the lever 12. It will also be apparent that the handle 12 and the jaw :16 cannot be parts of the wrench, the top wall 54 of the handle 12 en-- gages the inner end 24 of the housing 10 to limit pivoting of the handle about its pivot pin 14. In this position the handle 12 has been pivoted to bring the end surface 38 thereof into engagement with the complementary end surface 40 formed on the movable jaw 16, the segment 46 being moved upwardly along the surface 40 as the handle 12-pivots on the housing .10. FIG. 1 illustrates respectively, and that the turning force thus exerted on the handle'121by the jaw 16 will tend to pivot the handle in a clockwise direction on itspivot pin 14, which-is the same direction as that used to: turn the workpiece 56.

This arrangement represents a distinct advantage over prior art devices of this type, since with the present ar- C rangement the reactionlfrom the workpiece on the mov able jaw tends to lock the, jaw in. position. The arcuate abutment surfaces 38 and 40 on the handle and jaw pro- .vide substantial areas of contact to prevent wear of such surfaces and to insure positive locking of the movable jaw.

The wrench is shown in FIG; 3"Tafter a retu-rn'stroke has been initiated by pivoting the handle 12 in a counterthe locking position of the wrench and the position that I illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, respectively. A spring 134 reacting between the handle 120 and the segment 130 clockwise direction. Initial movement ofthe handle 12f;

on its pivot pin 14 in a counterclockwise direction brings "the bottom wall 34 of the handle' iuto engagement with the end 24 of thehousing and'at the same time effects 'disengagement of the locking; surfaces 38 and 40g and movement of 'the segment 16-along the surface'4t) to urges the movable jaw 118 toward its locked or closed position in which the jaw abuts housing 110 at 135. When the handle 12% is moved a short distance through its return stroke, the segment 130 will be turned so that its flat face .136 is in the same plane as the face 138 of the movable jaw stem 116 whereupon the movable jaw and the segment can slidexagainst the flat surfaces 131 and 138 outwardly through the opening .114 .as the jaws pass around the corners of the workpiece. The spring 134 returns the jaw to its closed position as soon as the next pair of flats are reached. Subsequent movement of the handle 120 in a torque applying direction will efiect locking of the-jaw118 by rotating the'segment 130 tothe position illustrated in FIG. 5 p

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in -FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, the handle 150 is pivoted on a pin 152- to' a housing 154 having a fixed jaw 156. The movable jaw.158 has a stem 16%) slidable within an opening-162 in the housing 154. A spring 164 urges the jaw 158 to its closed position in-which the jaw abuts housing 154 at-165. A spring 166 urges the handle 15!) in a clockwise old-torque applying direction against an inclined sunface 167 on housing 154. The forward end of the handle; 150 is provided with an arcuate locking surface the position illustrated'in F1613. At this time the jaw 16 is unlocked and continued counterclockwise rotation 'of the handle 12 will open jaw 16 as the jaws move across the corners of theworkpiece 56. 'position of the with against the force ofspring'48. [A pin 23 secured j at itsends in wall 22 provides a positive stop limiting opening movement of jaw 16. The step or shoulder 45 on jwrench is illustrated in'FIG. lfrom which it will be seen that the. workpiece 56 causes the jaw 16 to pivot in 'a if counterclockwise direction carrying the segment 46 therethe segment 46 and handle 12' limits closing movement ofjaw 16. A-s soon as the jaws pass across the corners of the workpiece and into engagement with the next pair 7 of flats on'the workpiece, the spring 48 will pivot the jaw 16 and the segment 46 in a clockwise direction back to the position illustrated in FIG. 3. Thereupon an initial movement of the handle in a clockwise directionwill effect locking of the jaw 16 in the position of the parts illustrated in FIG. 1, and the wrench isthen ready for the next torque applying operation.

168 and the stem- 160 of the movable jaw is provided :with a notch having a matching or complementary arcuate locking surface 17-0,'the center of "curvature of both sur-' faces being at the axis of pin 1'52. The parts are shown in FIG. 8 in the locked position of the jaw 158 in which the jaw is locked by the engagement of the arcuate surfaces 168 and 17 t). As in'the previous modifications, any force applied to the jaw 158 in ajaw-opening direction will tend to pivot'the handle '150 in a clockwise or torque applying direction. J When the handle 150' is moved a short distance through its return stroke, the locking surfaces 168and 170 will'disengage, as illustrated in FIG. 9, to permit the movable jaw 158 to slide upwardly as the jaws pass the corners of the nut 56. A stop pin 172 .limits movement of handle 150 in its unlocked position.

Spring164 will return the movable jaw 158 to its closed position as soon as the Wrench is swung to a position in which the jaws can engagethe next pair of flats on the nut 56. The spring 166 will thereupon return the handle 150 to its locked position in-which the surfaces 168 and 170 on-the handle and movable jaw, respectively, are engaged.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS.

5, 6 and 7 the housing 110 has a'fixed jaw 112 and an opening 114 receiving the stem portion 1160f the movable jaw 118. The handle 120 its forwardend 122 extending into a recess1'24 extending through the forward end of the housing 110. The lever 120 is pivoted i on a pin 126 to the housing 110. As in the previous embodiment, -'therelative movement and locking of the movable jaw and handle 12 0 is accomplished by the use of a segment havingsurfaces forming extensions of the .relatively moyable overlapping contours of the jaw and -handle, the segment thus being complementary to both i such parts. The stem 116 of'the movable jaw 118 is provided with a concave arcu-ate surface 128 receiving a segment 130 having a complementary surface, with the win. ter of curvature of. both such surfaces coinciding with 5 the axis of the pivot pm 126. .The forward'end of the handle lzli is providedwith a flat surface "131 intersecting 'Ihewrenches described herein are simple in construction and consist of a minimum number of parts. In each modification the locking surfaces on the handle and the movable jaw are arranged so that there is a positive lock a convex surface 132 having the same curvature as the segment 13,0' and'the surface .128 on the movable jaw 118 so that, .when the handle is swung in aclockwise direction, which is the torque applying direction, the sur face 132. on ,the handle will engagethe surface 128 on a the movable jaw to securely lock the-movable jaw on "the workpiece as in the previous modification. FIGS. "6- and '7 illustrate other-'posiu'onsof? the wrench corre- --sporiding to the posit-ions of. the previouslembodiment for the movable jaw, and the torque applying force is not used to maintain the movable jaw locked against the workpiece as is the case in the prior art devices of this type. In the present artangement a force against the movable, jaw in a jaw-openingdirection reacts against the handle in the direction in which the handle is moved to obtain the lock in the first instance and thusthe reaction force from the workpiece only tends to lock the movable jaw rather than unlock the same, as in the prior art devices.

While 1 have illustrated and described preferred embodiments of my invention, it isunderstood that these are capable of modification, and I therefore do not wish to be limitedto the precise details set forth but desire to avail myself of such changes nndalter-ations as fall within the purview of the following. claims.

' I claim:

1. A wrench comprising a fixed jaw, a handle pivoted on saidfixed jaw, a movable jaw pivoted on said fixed jaw, said movable jaw and said handle having curved locking surfaces whose center of curvature is at the pivot point of said handle, said'rnovable jaw and handle also having curved end surfaces whose center of curvature is at the pivot point of said movable jaw, a segment disposed between said movable jaw and handle and having its opposite faces conforming to said two curved surfaces, whereby said movable jaw and segment are rotatable in a jaw opening direction when said handle is in one position thereof, said segment being rotatable with said handle to a second position of said handle in which the first-mentioned surfaces on said movable jaw and handle are engaged to lock said movable jaw against opening, the pivot points of said handle and movable jaw and said locking surfaces being arranged so that a force applied to said movable jaw in a jaw opening direction, when said locking surfaces are engaged, reacts through said surfaces in a direction tending to pivot said handle to said second position.

2. A wrench comprising a fixed jaw, a handle pivoted on said fixed jaw, a movable jaw pivoted on said fixed jaw, said movable jaw and said handle having cylindrical locking surfaces having a center of curvature at the pivot point of said handle, said handle also having a cylindrical end surface having its center of curvature at the pivot point of said movable jaw, a segment disposed between said movable jaw and handle and having its opposite faces conforming to said two cylindrical surfaces, whereby said movable jaw and segment are rotatable in a jaw opening direction when said handle is in one position thereof, said segment being rotatable with said handle to a second position of said handle in which the first-mentioned surfaces on said movable jaw and handle are engaged to lock saidmovable jaw against opening, the pivot points of said handle and movable jaw and said locking surfaces being arranged so that a force applied to said movable jaw in a jaw opening direction, when said locking surfaces are engaged, reacts through said surfaces in a direction tending to pivot said handle to said second position.

3. A wrench comprising a fixed jaw, a handle pivoted on said fixed jaw, a movable jaw slidably supported on said fixed jaw, said movable jaw and said handle having cylindrical locking surfaces having a center of curvature at the pivot point of said handle, said movable jaw and handle also having coplanar end surfaces, a segment disposed between said movable jaw and handle and having its opposite faces conforming respectively to said cylindrical surface and said coplanar surfaces, whereby said movable jaw and segment are slidable in a jaw opening direction when said handle is in one position thereof, said segment being rotatable with said handle to a second position of said handle in which the first-mentioned surfaces on said movable jaw and handle are engaged to lock said movable jaw against opening, said locking surfaces being arranged so that a force applied to said movable jaw in a jaw opening direction, when said locking surfaces are engaged, reacts through said surfaces in a direction tending to pivot said handle to said second position.

4. A wrench comprising a fixed jaw, a handle pivoted on said fixed jaw, a movable jaw movably supported on said fixed jaw, said movable jaw and said handle having cylindrical locking surfaces having a center of curvature at the pivot point of said handle, a segment disposed between said movable jaw and handle and having one face conforming to said cylindrical surface and its opposite face slidably engaging said handle, whereby said movable jaw and segment are movable in a jaw opening direction when said handle is in one position thereof, said segment being rotatable with said handle to a second position of said handle in which the first-mentioned surfaces on said movable jaw and handle are engaged to lock said movable jaw against opening, said locking surfaces being arranged 6 so that a force applied to said movable jaw in a jaw opening direction, when said locking surfaces are engaged, reacts through said surfaces in a direction tending to pivot said handle to said second position.

5. A wrench comprising a fixed jaw, a handle pivoted on said fixed jaw, a movable jaw movably supported on said fixed jaw, said movable jaw having a concave arcuate surface whose center of curvature is coincident with the pivot point of said handle when said movable jaw is in its closed position, a segment having an arcuate surface slidably engaging said surface on said movable jaw, said segment haw'ng a second surface slidably engaging a complementary surface on said handle, said handle having a convex arcuate surface having its center of curvature at the pivot point of said handle, said segment being movable with said movable jaw in a jaw opening direction when said handle is in one position thereof, said segment being rotatable with said handle to a second position of said handle in which the convex surface on said handle engages said arcuate surface on said movable jaw to lock said movable jaw against opening.

6. In a machine of the type described, a housing, a first member rotatably mounted on said housing, a second member rotata-bly mounted on said housing on an axis parallel to and spaced from the axis of rotation of said first member, said first and second members each having a convex cylindrical surface and an intersecting concave cylindrical surface, the convex surface on each member having its center of curvature at the axis of rotation of such member, and the concave surface on each member having its center of curvature at the axis of rotation of the other of said members, and a third member disposed between said first and second members and having its opposite sides conforming to and slidably engaging the concave surfaces on said first and second members, said opposite sides of said third member thereby being complementary to the convex surfaces on said first and second members, whereby said second and third members may be rotated relative to the first member in one position of the latter, said first and third members being rotatable relative to said second member when the latter is in one position thereof thereby to lock said second member against rotation until said first member is returned to said one position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,209,658 Baltzley Dec. 26, 1916 1,616,871 Salvucci Feb. 8, 1927 1,657,902 Ross Jan. 31, 1928 1,693,347 Pinkus Nov. 27, 1928 1,736,549 Salmon Nov. 19, 1929 1,826,765 Gang Oct. 13, 1931 2,015,782 Briles Oct. 1, 1935 2,069,842 Nielsen Feb. 9, 1937 2,116,743 Henderson May 10, 1938 2,521,419 Sellers Sept. 5, 1950 2,646,709 Daniels July 28, 1953- 2,647,425 Mortensen Aug. 4, 1953 2,823,568 Mann Feb. 18, 1958 2,824,476 Wilson Feb. 25, 1958 2,868,337 Holl Jan. 13, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 5,396 Great Britain Nov. 20, 1913 of 1913 207,367 Great Britain Nov. 29, 1923 209,564 Germany May 6, 1909 

